Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're a PhD student with a faculty mentor in a biomedical field, the F31 is a prestigious, highly competitive mechanism to fund your dissertation research and establish yourself as an independent scientist.
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What this is
This is a predoctoral training fellowship from NIH for PhD candidates pursuing dissertation research in biomedical and health-related sciences. The award emphasizes mentored research training that enhances the student's trajectory toward independent research. Applicants cannot lead independent clinical trials but can participate in trials led by their faculty sponsor. Eligible institutions include universities, nonprofits, and some for-profits, though the award is fundamentally for the individual trainee, not the organization.
Who can apply
Must be a predoctoral (PhD) student enrolled at or sponsored by an eligible institution (universities, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, public/private institutions of higher education, and some other organizations). U.S. citizenship or permanent residency typically required; see full NOFO for details.
Eligible applicant types
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
Full description — from the agency
The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral (Parent F31) award is to enable promising predoctoral students will obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research projects in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The proposed mentored research training must reflect the candidates dissertation research project and is expected to clearly enhance the individuals potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow candidates to propose to lead an independent clinical trial but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Topics: predoctoral fellowship · phd funding · dissertation research · nih training award · biomedical research · mentored research training
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.